McCormack and McCourt in the mix at Roger Albert Clark Rally
Swedish driver Oliver Solberg and British co-driver Elliot Edmonson. File picure: Guillermo SALGADO / AFP)
Irish drivers Marty McCormack and Cathan McCourt hold top-four places as the Roger Albert Clark Rally edges closer to its fifth and final leg and event finish in Carlisle tomorrow. After SS26 Sweden’s Oliver Solberg (Ford Escort RS1800) holds a commanding lead of five minutes and 15s over the similar car of Draperstown’s McCormack and co-driver Barney Mitchell. Omagh’s Cathan McCourt and his Cork co-driver Liam Moynihan, also in an Escort RS1800, are only 19s off third place.
Solberg began Friday’s second leg a mere second behind Welsh ace Osian Pryce but with fastest times on all but one of the day’s seven stages Solberg ended the day 44s ahead of his rival as McCormack continued in third. Pryce retired after SS17 on Saturday following an oil leak in his Escort and that promoted McCormack into second spot as Solberg continued to dominate, even though two stages were cancelled, he ended the day four minutes and 15s ahead of McCormack, who was fortunate that spectators were around to help extricate his Escort from an off road excursion on one of the Scottish stages.
Sunday’s opening stages in the Kielder complex brought a change to the top three when Pritchard pulled a tyre off the rim on just the second left hander of the stage and had to stop and change the wheel. McCormack endured a big moment on another stage and McCourt experienced a huge spin. Heading to service prior to the day’s final pair of stages Solberg led McCormack by five minutes and 15s Perez was third with McCourt 19s further behind but eyeing up third place. There are five stages in Monday’s final leg.
Meanwhile, two Cork crews were virtually inseparable on the Carbery Navigation Trial where Ballincollig’s Brian Duggan and his Drinagh navigator Denis O’Donovan took the honours on a tie-break based on two-wheel drive versus four-wheel drive.
On board a Toyota Starlet they finished the Kilmurry-based event with just one penalty point as did the Mogeely/Ballincollig pairing of James Fitzgerald Ken Carmody, who campaigned a four wheel drive Subaru Impreza.
The Longford crew of Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston (Subaru Impreza) finished the 80-mile route with just two penalties. In wet, misty and often foggy conditions the top two crews kept a clean sheet until TP32 at a crossroads near Newcestown where they both incurred a penalty.
Duffy/Johnston also fell victim at the same location having earlier incurred their only other penalty soon after the start. Monaghan’s Shane Dalton/Ryan Treanor (Subaru Impreza) were in trouble at a “via” north of Newcestown incurring 20 penalties that put them out of contention for a top finish. The event dovetailed as rounds of the National Navigation and Munster Navigation championships with opening rounds winners Monaghan’s Andy Mackarel and Limerick’s Greg Shinnors (Subaru Impreza) finishing with seven penalties and taking fourth on a tie-break with the all-Monaghan pairing of Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan (Subaru Impreza). One of the performances of the event was that of Cavan’s Sean McConnell/Anthony McDonald (Subaru Impreza), who won the Novice category and were ninth in general classification.
Motorsport Ireland has chosen the three finalists for this year’s Sexton Trophy Young Racing Driver of the Year award. Wicklow's Max Hart (22) and Wexford’s Jack Byrne (20) have progressed to the final trio for the third successive season and will be joined by Antrim’s Brandon McCaughan (19). The overall winner will be announced at the Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards ceremony on Wednesday December 6th. Motorsport Ireland are expected to announce the names of the three finalists for the Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year award today.
1. O. Solberg/E. Edmondson (Ford Escort RS1800) 4h. 01m. 20s; 2. M. McCormack/B. Mitchell (Ford Escort RS1800)+5m. 15s; 3. S. Perez/G. McElhinney (Lancia Stratos)+ 9m. 29s; 4. C. McCourt/L. Moynihan (Ford Escort) 9m. 48s; %. B. Friend/C. Simmons (Ford Escort RS1800)+12m. 53s; 6. J. Pritchard/P. Clarke (Ford Escort RS1800)+14m. 07s.
1. B. Duggan/D. O'Donovan (Toyota Starlet) 1 penalty; 2. J. Fitzgerald/K. Carmody (Subaru Impreza) 1 pen; 3. C. Duffy/S. Johnson (Subaru Impreza) 2pens; 4. A. Mackarel/G. Shinnors (Subaru Impreza) 7pens; 5. M. Carbin/C. Mohan (Subaru Legacy) 7pens; 6. R. O'Neill/S. O'Neill (Subaru Impreza) 9pens; 7. D. Burke/P. O'Leary (Toyota Starlet) 14pens; 8. S. McConnell/A. McDonald (Subaru Impreza) 15pens; 9. P. MacDonagh/P. Corcoran (Subaru Impreza) 15pens; 10. P. Duffy/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 23pens.
